Apparatus for making and filling packages in a continuous operation



May 10, 1966 F. SCHAFER, JR 5 3,250,055 APPARATUS FOR MAKING AND FILLING PACKAGES IN A CONTINUOUS OPERATION Filed March 12, 1962 14 Sheets-Sheet 1 AMAZLZ m May 10, 1966 F. SCHAFER, JR 3,250,055

APPARATUS FOR MAKING AND FILLING PACKAGES IN A CONTINUOUS OPERATION Filed. March 12, 1962 14 Sheets-Sheet 2 4M,m 4m

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APPARATUS FOR MAKING AND FILLING PACKAGES IN A CONTINUOUS OPERATION Filed March 12, 1962 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN T OR.

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APPARATUS FOR MAKING AND FILLING PACKAGES IN A CONTINUOUS OPERATION Filed March 12, 1962 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 ii 12/ INVENTOR.

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APPARATUS FOR MAKING AND FILLING PACKAGES IN A CONTINUOUS OPERATION l4 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 12, 1962 HTTOEA/EY) y 1966 F. SCHAFER, JR 3,250,055

APPARATUS FOR MAKING AND FILLING PACKAGES IN A CONTINUOUS OPERATION Filed March 12, 1962 14 Sheets-Sheet 7 y 0, 1966 F SCHAFER, JR 3,250,055

APPARATUS FOR MAKING AND FILLING PACKAGES IN A CONTINUOUS OPERATION Filed March 12, 1962 14 Sheets-Sheet 8 BY Miriam m ATTOENEVS y 1966 F. SCHAFER, JR 3,250,055

APPARATUS FORMAKING AND FILLING PACKAGES IN A CONTINUOUS OPERATION Filed March 12, 1962 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 lfl IN VEN TOR.

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APPARATUS FOR MAKING AND FILLING PACKAGES IN A CONTINUOUS OPERATION Filed March 12, 1962 14 Sheets-Sheet 10 Q JNVENTOR. Q

May 10, 1966 F. SCHAFER, JR

Filed March 12, 1962 3,250,055 APPARATUS FOR MAKING AND FILLING PACKAGES IN A CONTINUOUS OPERATION 14 Sheets-Sheet ll y 1966 F. SCHAFER, JR 3,250,055 AKING AND FILLING PACKAGES I APPARATUS FOR M N A CONTINUOUS OPERATION Filed March 12, 1962 14 Sheets-Sheet l2 ATTOFNEY;

May 10, 1966 F. SCHAFER, JR 3,250,055

APPARATUS FOR MAKING AND FILLING PACKAGES IN A CONTINUOUS OPERATION Filed March 12, 1962 14 Sheets-Sheet l5 ATTORNEYS y 10, 1966 F. SCHAFER, JR 3,250,055

APPARATUS FOR MAKING AND FILLING PACKAGES IN A CONTINUOUS OPERATION 14 Sheets-Sheet l4 Filed March 12, 1962 ATTORNEY;

APPARATUSFOR MAKING AND FILLING PACK- This invention relates to apparatus for making and filling packages in a continuous operation.

According to the present invention, fluent substances, such as powders, granules, paste, or liquid,-and even solid United States Patent 3,250,055- Patented May 10, 1966 FIG. 8 is a cross section taken along the line 88 of FIG. 7 and showing the open position of the heat sealing bars thereof.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8, but showing the closed position of the heat sealing bars.

FIG. 9A is a fragmentary plan view of the strip of film material showing the pattern of longitudinal seals made by the heat sealer of FIGS. 7, -8 and 9.

objects, can be packaged in a continuous operation concurrent with the fabrication of individual packages or bags from a moving film of package forming material. For use in preferred embodiments of the invention, the packaging material desirably consists of two plies of material which are heat sealed in bands, both longitudinally and transversely of the film, to form individual pockets which are subsequently cut apart into discrete packages. Pocket openings are formed in at least one ply of the film to admit the spout of filling mechanism which deposits package contents into the respective pockets in the course of package fabrication.

Important features of the present invention relate to the filling apron, over whichthe partially formed package film is drawn and which provides a yieldable support for the film during the package filling operation.

The various heat sealing steps by which the film pockets' are formed are completed prior to the package filling operation. Accordingly, the package material is cold during the filling operation and heat sensitive package contents are unaffected. This is unlike certain prior art machines in which the heat sealing of the package occurs substantially concurrently with the filling thereof.

Apparatus embodying the present invention is also very versatile with respect to forming packages of different lengths and widths and machine elements are readily adjustable for this purpose. A great variety of different types of film can be processed on the machine. Both supported and unsupported films can be used.

Various products having different characteristics, such as a solid and a liquid, can be packaged simultaneously, for example related products such as popcorn and its accompanying oil can be packaged in a twin pack in various volumes, as required.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following disclosure in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross section taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2A is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the coacting'severing and anvil blades in the slitter mechanism of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is a cross section taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3A is a diagrammatic View showing the pattern of slits formed in a film web or ply by the slitter of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is a cross section taken along the line 44 of FIG. 1 and showing the first transverse heat sealing unit. \FIG. 5 is a cross section taken along the line 55 of FIG. 4 and showing the heat sealing bars in open position. FIG. 6 is a similar cross section, but showing the heat sealing bars in closed position.

FIG. 6A is a fragmentary plan of a web of film material showing the pattern of cross seal produced by the sealing unit of FIGS. 4, 5 and 6.

FIG. 7 is a cross section taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 1 and showing the longitudinal heat sealer.

FIG. 10 is a cross section taken along the line 10-10 of FIG. 1 and showing the slitter knife assembly.

' FIG. 11 is a cross section taken along the line 1111\1 of FIG. 10, showing the slitting knives of FIG. .10 in film cutting position.

FIG. l2.is a view similar to FIG. 11, which shows the slit-ting knives in elevated position.

FIG. 12A is a plan view of a strip of film material showing the longitudinal slits made therein by the slitting knives of FIGS. 10- 12.

FIG. 13 is a cross section taken along the line 16-43 of FIG. 1 and showing the heat sealing mechanism which closes the slits through which the material has been filled into the pockets.

FIG. 14 is a cross section taken along the line 1414 of FIG. 13, the filling apron being also shown in this view.

FIG. 14A is a plan view of a strip of film material showing the pattern of seals produced by the sealing apparatus of FIGS. 13 and 14.

FIG. 15 is a cross section taken along the line d51 5 of FIG. 1 and showing the feed wheels which intermittently advance the strip of film material.

FIG. 16 is a cross section taken along the line 1616 of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a cross section taken along the line 1717 of FIG. 1 and showing the final cut-off knife assembly by which the individual packages are severed from the web.

FIG. 18 is a cross section taken along the line 1 8\1 8 of FIG. '17.

FIG. 19 is an end elevation of apparatus embodying the invention, as viewed along the. line 19--19 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary end elevation showing in enlarged detail the filling mechanism, this view being taken along the line 20-20 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 21 is a cross section taken along the line 2 1-2 1 of FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is a fragmentary cross section taken along the line 22--22 of FIG. 20. 1

FIG. 23 is a view similar to FIG. 21, but showing the filling spout in an intermediate position in which it is advancing towards package filling position.

FIG. 24 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the parts in their position just before the spout advances toward entry into the film pocket.

FIG. 24A is a fragmentary perspective view showing the parts in an intermediate position, similar to that shown in FIG. 23, just after the spreading blades of the spout have entered the pocket.

FIG. 25 is a cross section similar to FIG. 23, but showing the spout in its fully advanced position.

FIG. 26 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the parts in their FIG. 25 position.

FIG. 27 is an enlarged detail of FIG. 25.

FIG. 27A is a fragmentary elevation of the filling apron.

FIG. 27B is a cross section along the line 27B27B of FIG. 27A.

FIG. 27C is a diagrammatic perspective view showing the film as it appears after the various slitting and sealing operations have been performed thereon.

FIG. 28 is a schematic drawing showing diagrammatically the various machine elements which perform the slitting and sealing operations indicated in FIG. 27C.

Any conventional packaging material or film may be used. The material is desirably thin, flexible and heat scalable, for example rubber hydrochloride, known as Pliofilm, and polyvinyl chloride, known as Koroseal. The film may be transparent or opaque and may have labels printed directly thereon. With reference particularly to FIGS. 1, 27C and 28, two webs or plies 35, 36 of film material are typically fed into the machine by drawing them from the supply rolls 37, 38 under the power of power-actuated feed rolls 39, 40.

The machine is provided with a frame, indicated generally by reference character 41, the details of which are broadly immaterial. Frame 41 supports an electric motor 42 which powers the continuously driven feed rolls 39, 40 and cam shaft 50 which times the intermittent actuation of other parts of the machine, as hereinafter explained. Motor 42 drives a suitable speed reducer 43 which has output shaft 44 which drives chain 47 which drives the input sprocket of a variable speed drive 48, and a chain 49 which drives cam shaft 50. Cam shaft 50 carries a series of cams 51 by which a series of switches 52 are actuated to control the various functions of the machine, as hereinafter described. The three cams 51 and switches 52 shown in the drawing FIG. 1 are typical of a larger number of like cams and switches needed for control of the various machine functions.

The variable speed transmission 48 is controlled manually through crank 46 and has an output shaft 45 which drives jack shaft 53 either directly through the chain 55 or through a conventional photocell controlled synchronizing drive unit 56 through the chains 57, 58. Synchronizing unit 56 has its own electric motor 59 and is subject to photocell 54, as is conventional. This unit times the drive rolls 39, 40 with imprinted labels on the webs 35, 36.

Jack shaft 53 drives the chain 60, which in turn drives continuously the feed rolls 39, 40, which draw the webs of film 35, 36 from supply rolls 37, 38. The two plies or webs of film 35, 36 merge in face relation to form a composite strip 61 which is trained over a dancer roll 62 which is gravity or otherwise biased to take up any slack in the web 61 resulting from its continuous feed under power of the rolls 39, 40 and its intermittent advance thereafter, as Will hereinafter be described.

While but a single longitudinal row of packages could be fabricated and filled on the machine of the present invention, greatly increased production results from the use of a relatively wide film strip and the formation therein of a plurality of laterally adjacentrows, each formed and filled concurrently. For purposes of exemplification, the described machine will form and fill several laterally adjacent rows 63, 64, 65 and 66 as is illustrated in FIG. 27C.

The machine frame 41 includes laterally spaced longitudinally extending side beams 69 which define the top bed of the machine and on which the transverse pocket opening slitter 70, first cross heat sealer 71, and longitudinal side and row sealer 73 are mounted for longitudinal adjustment. provided along their top edges with racks 76 which cooperate with pinions, with which the various slitters and sealers are provided, for ready longitudinal adjustment thereof. Accordingly, each such unit can be positioned to produce in the film 61 seals and slits which will be spaced properly to produce packages of proper length and width, depending on package requirements.

In the typical machine embodiment shown in the drawings, the multi-ply film strip 61 will pass over a guide bar or roller 77 after passing the dancer roll 62 and its respective plies 35, 36 will be separated by the divider bar 78, which desirably also constitutes the anvil knife for the slitter knife assembly 70, details of which are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The strip plies 35, 36 are separated ahead of or upstream of the slitter knife assembly 70 so that the knife is effective only upon the upper- As shown in FIGS. 29, the beams 69 are most ply 35, the lowermost ply remaining unslit thereby.

Where a plurality of rows of packages are to be produced, as in'the disclosed embodiment, the severing knife 79 of the slitter assembly 70 consists of a plurality of laterally spaced knife edges 80 which are desirably each inclined, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 2A, to develop a shearing action against the edge of anvil knife 78.

As aforesaid, the knife assembly 70 is adjustable as a unit along the rack 76. For this purpose, the knife unit 70 consists of hanger brackets 81, which are slidable along the wear plates 82 on the top edges of the support beams 69 and Wear plates on the facing sides of the support beams 69. 'Pinions 83 on cross shaft 84 mesh with the teeth of the rack 76 so that upon rotation of the crank wheel 87, the slitter unit 70 can be shifted longitudinally of the machine.

The severing blade 79 of the knife is actuated by a fluid motor 88 which has its cylinder fixed to the cross bar 89 fixed to the brackets 81. The piston 90 of the fluid motor 88 is connected to cross head angle strap 91 which has at its respective ends thrust stems 92 which are interconnected to the cross head bracket 93 to which the severing blade 79 is connected by a series of bolts 94.

The cross head bracket 93 is vertically slidable in ways 95 provided in the facing edges of hanger brackets 81. Accordingly, when fluid pressure is applied to the motor 88, under control of a suitable set of cams 51 and switches 52, the severing blade 79 is drawn downwardly, as viewed in FIGS. 2, 2A and 3, to produce slits 97 in the top ply 35 of the film strip or sleeve 61, these being shown both in FIGS. 3A and 27C.

The multi-ply film strip or sleeve 61 is stopped during the interaction therewith of the slitter unit 70. For this purpose, the drive units 184, 185 for the film are intermittently actuated, as hereinafter explained, in order to provide a dwell period within which the slitter unit is actuated. 'During such dwell the dancer roll 62 takes up the slack in the film 61 caused by continuous rotation of the feed rolls 39, 40 and keeps the film taut.

Note from FIG. 2A that the severing blade 79 is provided at its respective ends with guide fingers 98 which are long enough to remain continuously in contact with the machined surface 99 of the anvil blade 78, even when the knife blade 79 has been retracted to disengage all of its knife edges 80 therefrom. Accordingly, on the closing stroke of the knife blade unit, the shearing edges 80 are positively guided for proper shearing action with the anvil knife 78.

After completion of the slits 97, the appropriate cam actuated switch 52 depressurizes the fluid motor 88 and the movable blade 79 of the knife is retracted under pressure of the return springs 99.

The respective plies 35, 36 of sleeve strip 61 will now return to face relation by passing between guide rollers 100 preliminary to the concurrent action on both of said plies by the cross heat sealing unit 71, which is also shown in FIGURES 4 through 6. It is the function of the cross sealer 71 to seal together the respective plies 35, 36 along cross bands 101 shown in FIGS. 6A and 27. Note that these bands are formed in the strip 61 proximate to the slits 97, but slightly at one side thereof so that the slits 97 provide side openings to pockets which will subsequently be formed in the strip 61 by the cross seals 101 and by longitudinal seals 102 which are thereafter formed by the longitudinal sealers 72.

The cross sealer 71- is also adjustable longitudinally of the machine on its support brackets 103 which journal the cross shaft 104 having pinions 105 which mesh with the rack 76. Adjustment of the hand wheel 108 on shaft 104 will establish the desired spacing of the sealing unit 71 from the slitting unit 70 to properly place the cross seals 101 with respect to the previously formed slits 97.

Note that the seals 101 desirably are unbroken from one margin to the other of the strip 61. These are produced by conventional heat seal bars 109, 110, which are,

would result.

provided with electricalheating elements 111. These may either be continuously heated or intermittently heated in time with the advance of the strip 61.

The respective heat sealing bars 109, 110 are spring mounted on the cross head rails 112, 113, which are guided for movement toward and away from each other on the guide pins 114 mounted in brackets 103. A fluidoperated motor 115 has its cylinder connected to cross head 118 having its ends connected by stems 119 to the uppermost head rail 112. The piston rod 117 of the motor 115 is directly connected to cross head rail 113. Accordingly, actuation of the motor 115 will bring the heat seal bars 109, 110 toward one another and against the intervening strip 61.

The hanger brackets 103 are provided with positive stop shoulders 120, against which the rails 112, 113 will positively abut in their closed position to align accurately the closed bite of the bars 109, 110 on the path of the strip 61. Cushioning springs 121, 126 may optionally be provided.

The motor 115 is desirably double acting under control of a suitable one of the cam operated switches 52 to act during the dwell in the intermittent movement of the film strip 61 and to open the jaws 109, 110 after the heat seal 101 has been formed. Completion of the operation of the cross heat sealer 71 will produce in the film 61 the condition illustrated in FIGURE 6A in which the cross seals 101 have been formed on transverse lines closely proximate the previously formed slits 97.

The next operation is to form the longitudinal seals 102, which define the rows 63, 64, 65 and 66 of packages or pockets in the strip 61. Further movement of the strip 61 will bring it between the series of sets of longitudinal heat sealing bars 122, 123 of the sealer unit 72. The sets of bars 122, 123 have electric heat elements 111, as in the sealer unit 71. The paired heat sealing bars in each set are longitudinally aligned and spaced laterally an appropriate distance to produce heat seal bands 102 laterally spaced to define packages of appropriate width. 'For this purpose, the respective bars are mounted on upper and lower sets of rails 124, 125 having T-slide adjustable coupling connection with the transverse headers 128, 129. The respective headers 128, 129 are interconnected respectively with the piston rod 135 and cylinder 131 of the fluid-operated motor 132, which is subject to a suitable one of the cam-operated switches 52 to be actuated in time with the dwell period of the strip 61 to clamp the respective bars 122, 123 against the intervening film strip 61 to produce the longitudinal seals 102.

As in the case of the sealing" unit 71, the sealing unit 72 is suspended on hanger brackets 130 adjustable longitudinally on the rack 76 by rotating hand wheel 131 connected to shaft 132 having pinions 133 which mesh with the teeth of the rack 76.

' The brackets 130 have positive stop abutment shoulders 134 against which the headers 128, 129 abut when the bars come together, thus to accurately align the bite of the bars on the path of the strip 61.

Accordingly, as shown in FIGURES 9A and 27C, individual pockets 137 have now been formed in the rectangular grid pattern shown in these figures so that if out apart through the seals, separate discrete packages or packets Each such pocket 137 has .a pocket opennection to its mounting block 141. Accordingly, each knife 139 .is individually adjustable to be'ra'isedor lowered somewhat for proper slitting action on the film strip 61.

The respective blocks 141 are mounted on across head bracket 142 which may be raised and lowered on the cam adjuster 143 between its respective position shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. In normal operating position, the knives 139 will be in their position shown in FIG. 11 and will sever the web 61 into discrete strips of packets 137 aligned in rows 63, 66, inclusive.

As best shown in FIGS. -27, the strip 61 is now drawn around a curved filling apron indicated generally by reference character 144. The apron over which the strip 61 is drawn somewhat in the manner of a waterfall desirably consists of laterally aligned spaced blocks 147, each having a curved smooth surface 148 and a coacting tongue and groove slip connection 149 with mounting bar 150. Accordingly, the blocks 147 can be shifted longitudinally along bar 150 and secured in desired spaced ing or slit 97 at one end thereof and through which package contents are admitted thereto, as will hereinafter be explained. v

The next step in the sequence is to slit the sleeve strip 61 longitudinally through those seals 102 which are rerelation thereto by means of the set screws 15 1.

The blocks 147 are so aligned on the rail or bar that there are recesses or voids 151 therebetween, the said recesses or voids 151 being aligned with the filling spouts 152. The spacing of the blocks 147 and spouts 152 is such that each row 63-66 in the strip 61 is aligned with an apron recess 151 and a spout 152.

Over the curved faces 148 of the blocks .147 is stretched under slight tension a rubber or like flexible flap or covering 153, which is secured at its end margins by the bands 154 and along its rear margin by the band 155. Accordingly, the rubber flap 153 covers the recesses 15 1 and provides a continuous surface to provide support continuously for the strip 61. The rubber flap .153 is adapted to yield rearwardly into the recesses 151 when the filling spouts 152are advanced to pocket filling position, as shown in FIGS. 23-27.

The filling apron 144 is guided for slight vertical movement with respect to the fixed brackets 158 on which it is mounted on the machine frame by depending bolts 159. (FIGS. 20, 23, 25.) The :heads of bolts 159 are spaced from brackets 158 a'distance slightly greater than the thickness of the apron mounting bar 150, thus to provide slight clearance 157 between the topof bar 150 and the brackets 158 when the filling apron rests by gravity on the bolt heads 159. When the second cross sealing unit 184 is elevated to seize strip 61 in the vicinity of pocket openings 97, it will lift the filling apron on its bolts 159 to its topmost position shown in FIG. 21.

The filling apron 144 provides a corner or edge around which the film strip 6 1 is bent to tend to open the slits 97 through which the individual strip pockets 137 are to be filled. (FIG. 24.) By reason or this arrangement, extraneous pocket opening mechanism such as vacuum nozzles, adhesive tape, etc., is avoided. The rubber flap 153 guides the strip for alignment of the partially opened slits 97 with the path of advance of the filling spouts 152. The recesses 151 behind the flap 153 permit the flexible flap 153 to yield rearwardly as the filling spouts 152 enter the pockets 137 through the slits 97.

The respective filling spouts 152 are connected through ducts 160 with package contents, for example liquid detergent, granular material, etc., which may flow by gravity or be forced under pressure through the ducts 160 and through spouts 152 into the pockets 137. The specific size, shape and dimension of the respective spouts 152 will vary, depending on the nature of the material which is to be injected therethrough into the pockets. Those shown in the drawings are typical for a liquid.

All spouts 152 are mounted on transport mechanism including a vertically movable cross head rail 161, guided for vertical movement on the guide stems 162 near the ends thereof. (FIGS. 20, 2l.) The upper ends of the spouts 152 may have funnel-shaped receptacles 163 to receive package contents from the ducts 160. The vertically operated cross head rail. 161 is actuated by bell crank 164 oscillatable on fixed pivot pin 167 under pressure of the fluid motor 168, the action of which is timed and controlled by a suitable one of the cam operated switches 52 to insert the spouts into the pockets during the dwell period of strip advance.

The spouts 152 are also provided with spring fingers or plow blades 169 by which the slits 97 in the respective pockets 137 will be spread apart in the course of downward movement of the spouts 152 to open the pockets. The plow blades 169 are mounted on a collar 170, through which the spout 152 extends. The blades 169 converge towards each other beyond the end of the spout 152, but the spout has a spreading cam 171 which will engage the plow blades 169 in the course of its downward movement to open the same when the spout is advanced from its position shown in FIG. 24 to its final position shown in FIG. 27.

Plow blades 169 are' first advanced concurrently with the spout 152 in order to insert the blades into the slit 97 before the plow blades are spread. At this point, further advance of the plow blades is interrupted while the spout continues to advance, thus spreading the plow blades after they have entered the slits to admit the spout into the pocket and to enlarge the pocket to receive its contents.

The collar 170 on which the spreading blades 169 are mounted is positioned axially on the spout 152 by the coil spring 179. The collar 170 has a laterally projecting tab 180 which rides in a vertically elongated slot 181 in the laterally adjustable guide bracket 182 mounted alongside each spout 152. (See FIGS. 20, 22, 24, 26.) During the first increment of downward movement of the spout 152 under pressure of the fluid motor 168, tab 180 moves freely in the slot 181 so that the plows 169 move downwardly and at the same rate and enter the slits 97. However, when the parts reach their position shown in FIGS. 23 and 24A, tab 181! reaches the end of its slot 181, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 22, thus arresting further downward movement of the spreader blades 1169. Continued downward movement of the spout 152 will then open or spread the blades 169, as shown in FIGS. 25 and 26, and the springs 179 will contract, as shown in FIGS. 25 and 27, to accommodate for this lost motion.

As indicated in FIGS. 25 and 27, spreading of the plow blades 169 is permitted without dislocation of the strip 61 by the yielding of the rubber flap 153 and the rear wall 36 of the pocket into the recess 151 formed in the filling apron 144. The slit 97 is yieldingly supported by the rubber flap 153 during the entry of the plow blades and spout to preclude tearing of the film 61.

The flow of material discharged from the spout into the pocket may be controlled by the slide valve 172 actuated by fluid motor 173 which is subjected to a suitable one of the cam operated switches 52. When the pockets are filled, motor 168 is actuated to withdraw the spouts from the pockets 137, thus freeing the strip 61 for further movement.

Guide rods 176 and 177 are provided to properly guide the film strip 61 over the filling apron 144. Bands 178 of Fiberg-las or other smooth tape may be applied over those portions of the rubber flap 153 which overlie the blocks 147 to lubricate the movement of the film over the apron.

The individual packets 137 are now filled and in readiness for heat sealing in a second continuous band 183 across the strip 61, which band 183 will intersect the slits 97, and heat seal the same to complete closure of the pockets 137.

The second cross seal unit 184 which makes the heat seal bands 183 is shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. Its action is coordinated with the film strip drawing unit 185, details of which are shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. Final cutoff is accomplished by the knife unit 186, details of which are shown in FIGS. 17 and 18.

The respective units 184, 185, 186 are adjustably mounted on a front panel 189 of the machine, the respective units being provided with suitable bearing blocks 190, 191, 192, on which the respective units are adjustable vertically on the guide rods 193 mounted on the front panel 189 by corner brackets 194.

For purposes of adjusting the units, the panel 189 is provided on its front face with fixed racks 197. Strip propelling or driving unit is provided with a cross shaft 198 having a hand crank wheel 199 and pinions 260 meshing with the rack 197. Accordingly, the exact vertical position of the propelling unit 185 is adjusted by manipulation of the hand crank 199, whereupon the bearting blocks 191 can be locked to the guide rods 193 by manipulation of the screw clamps 201. This fixes the position of the drive unit 185 and also the heat seal unit 184 which cooperates with the drive unit in drawing down the strip 6-1.

The final cutoff knife unit 186 (FIGS. 17, 18) is provided with a cross shaft 202, with a hand crank wheel 283 and pinions 204 meshing with the rack 197. Final adjustment of the cutoff knife unit 186 pursuant to manipulation of the hand crank wheel 203 is fixed by turning down the screw clamps 205 on the slide bearings 192.

The second cross seal unit 184 (FIGS. 13, 14) is reciprocated vertically as guided on the rods 193 by the double acting fluid motor 239, the actuation of which is controlled by a suitable one of the cam operated switches 52. This motion also drives the wheels 213 of propelling unit 185 (FIG. 15) by reason of the engagement of rack 208 which depends from cross seal unit 184 with wheel drive pinion 289 mounted on the shaft 210 of the propelling unit 185. Propelling unit 185 has another shaft 211 which receives power from shaft 210 through meshing gears 214, 215.

Both shafts 210, 211 have a series of mating strip drive wheels 212, 213, which are adjustably fixed to the shafts 210, 211 so that they coact with the film strip 61 along the sealed longitudinal bands 102 formed therein by the longitudinal heat sealers 72.

There is an overrunning clutch 238 between drive pinion 299 and wheel shaft 218. Accordingly, shaft 210 is driven only when the rack 298 moves downwardly. The clutch 238 dvisengages when the rack moves upwardly. Pinion 209 has the same diameter as the Wheels 212.

Accordingly, when motor 239 is actuated to pull down on the heat seal unit 184 (its heat seal bars will then be clamped on the strip 61 as will hereinafter appear), the rack 288 will concurrently rotate wheels 212, 213 so that the strip 61 will be propelled by the joint action of the rotating wheels and the downwardly moving heat seal unit 184. At the conclusion of the down stroke of motor 239 as controlled by one of the cam actuated switches 52 (adjusted to advance the strip one package length), the motor 239 will be reversed to raise the heat seal unit 184, Concurrently motor 239 on the heat seal unit 184 opens the jaws of the heat seal bars. Clutch 238 overruns and the strip 61 is held in its dwell position.

Heat seal unit 184 (FIG. 13) consists of a frame 220, which includes the brackets which are slidable on guide rods 193. The frame carries a pair of heat seal bars 221, 222, each heated electrically by the heating elements 223. The bars are mounted on respective cross head rails 224, 225, respectively connected to the cylinder 228 and piston rod 229 of a fluid motor 230. In the embodiment illustrated, motor 230' is on the rear side of the mounting panel 189, the panel being provided with vertical slots 231, through which connections are made from the motor to the cross head rails 224, 225. Cylinder 228 is connected to the header 232, which is in turn connected by paired stems 233 to the rail 225. Piston rod 229 is directly connected to the cross head rail 224.

Frame 220 is provided with positive abutment stops 234 against which the cross head rails 224, 225 will be drawn when the motor 230 is actuated to close bars 221, 222 on 7 I 9' the strip 61. Accordingly, the bite of the bars 221, 222 is accurately aligned with the path of the strip 61. In the course of machine operations and under control of the appropriate cam operated switches 52, feed of the strip 61 will stop when the slits 97 reach their positions shown in FIG. 21. At this point the filling spouts 152 will descend for entrance into the pockets 137 as aforestated.

At this point in the cycle, the filling apron 144 is at its lowermost position on the bolts 159 as shown in FIG. 21 to provide a yieldable backing for the strip 61 behind the slits 97. In the course of filling the pockets, motor 239 elevates the heat seal unit 184 with its jaws open. At the point in the cycle where the pockets 137 are filled and the appropriate cam operated switch 52 is actuated to energize motor 168 to lift the filling spouts 152 out of the switch 52 is actuated to energize the fluid operated motor 230 to close bars 221, 222 on the strip 61 and across the slits 97 to seal the'slits on the cross heatseal bands 183 shown in FIGS. 14A and 27. As soon as the heat seal bars 221, 222 clamp against the film 61, the appropriate cam-operated switch 52 operates motor 239 to draw down on the heat seal unit 184 and concurrently through rack 208 the propelling unit 185 to rotate the wheels 212, 213 and to draw the strip 61 downwardly, as aforestated. This maintains the heat sealing bars 221, 222 in contact with the strip 61 during the course of its intermittent downward movement.

When the strip 61 has been drawn downwardly for a full package length, appropriate cam-operated switch 52 stops the motor 239, and motor 230 is actuated to unclamp heat seal bars 221, 222 from engagement with the strip 61. Thereafter motor 239 is actuated to lift heat seal unit 184 upwardly. Within the time required to lift heat seal unit 184 upwardly, the next series of packets 137 are being filled over the filling apron 144. When this filling is completed, the heat sealing unit 184 has reached its uppermost position, where it will again lift filling apron 144 and expose the slits 97 to the heat sealing bars 221, 222.

Final package cut-off knife unit 186 (FIG. 17) is provided with an anvil blade 240 and shearing blade 241. These blades are actuated by the fluid motor 242, which has its cylinder connected to the fixed cross head'243 and its piston rod 244 connected directly to the shearing blade 240.

Anvil blade 241 is 'fixedto the fixed cross head 243, only the shearing blade 240 being movable. Movement of the blade 240 is guided on the rods 245. The movable blade 241 has finger or leg extensions 246, which are guided on ground surfaces 247 of the anvil blade 241 for proper shearing action of the blades. Motor 242 is controlled by a suitable one of the cam-operated switches 52 to actuate the cut-off knife unit 186 to shear through the transverse heat seal bands 183 in the dwell period of the movement of the sleeve 61, thus to cut off the individual packets, as shown in FIG. 27. These may fall onto a chute 250 to be collected in a bin 251, or the like.

I claim:

1. A machine for forming a plurality of packet pockets of selected predetermined length in a continuous sleeve forming film having opposed plies, comprising:

(a) a frame having a track,

(b) a transverse film slitter on the track to cut a pocket opening in at least one of said plies,

(c) a transverse sealer on the track to seal said plies together at the end of each pocket opposite said pocket opening, and

(d) means for selectively moving said slitter and sealer along the track to adjust the spacing thereof according to theselected predetermined length of the pocket.

2. The machine of claim 1 infurther combination with means upstream of the film slitter for separating the opposed plies of the film and for exposing only one of said plies to the slitter, whereby the other ply remains unslit.

3. Themachine of claim 1 in further combination with (e) a filling apron beyond the transverse sleeve sealer,

(f) means for drawing the sleeve over the apron and to a position in which its pocket opening overlies the apron,

(g) a pocket filling spout,

(h) transport means for the spout on which the spout is timed to enter the pocket through its opening to fill the pocket with package contents while the pocket opening overlies the apron.

4. The machine of claim 3 in which said apron has a recess aligned longitudinally with the pocket and within which sleeve material may be received in the course of filling the pocket.

5. The machine of claim 3 in which said apron has a recess aligned longitudinally with-the pocket and within which sleeve material may be received in the course of filling the pocket, said apron having a flexible covering spanning across said recess to align the pocket opening with the spout and yieldable into said recess under pressure of the spout.

6. The machine of claim 3 in which said spout has pocket spreading fingers and means to actuate said fingers when the spout is in the pocket.

7. The machine of claim 3 in further combination with a transverse sleeve sealer beyond the apron to seal said sleeve plies together across said pocket opening to seal the filled package.

8. The machine of claim 7 in further combination with a transverse cutter beyond the last mentioned transverse sleeve sealer to sever the sleeve into discrete filled packages.

9. The machine of claim 7 in which said transverse film slitter comprises a plurality of knives spaced transversely of the machine to produce in the sleeve a plurality of transversely spaced pocket openings with unsevered prising mans for longitudinally sealing said film plies together in bands aligned with the said links to provide a plurality of rows of package pockets, and additional pocket filling spots aligned with the respective rows.

10. The machine of claim 7 in which said transverse sleeve sealer comprises a frame, spaced apart heat sealing bars at opposite sides of the sleeve, transport means on which said bars are mounted for movement both transversely and longitudinally of the sleeve, a fluid motor for advancing said bars toward each other transversely of the sleeve and against the intervening sleeve, said motor comprising cylinderand piston members respectively connected to said bars, said frame having positive stops.defining the closed position of the bars in which their bite is aligned with the path of longitudinal sleeve movement.

11. In a machine of the character described, heat sealing mechanism comprising a frame, a plurality of sets of spaced apart heat sealing bars between which heat sealable material is fed, transport means on which the bars in each set are mounted for lateral movement on said frame to change the lateral spacing between sets, a fluid motor for advancing the bars of respective sets toward each other and against intervening heat sealable material, saidmotor comprising cylinder and piston members respectively connected to the bars of respective sets. Y

12. The device of claim 11 in which said transport means comprises rails parallel to said bars and on which said bars are mounted, said frame having positive stops against which said rails abut under pressure of the fluid motor.

13. In a machine of the character described, mechanism for filling packages through a side opening in a sleeve pocket, said mechanism comprising:

(a) afilling apron,

(b) means for drawing a sleeve with a side opening over the apron and to a position in which its side opening overlies the apron,

(c) a pocket filling spout,

(d) transport means for the spout on which it is timed to enter the pocket through its side opening to fill the pocket with package contents while the side opening overlies the apron.

14. In a machine of the character described, mecha- I nism for filling packages through a side opening in a sleeve pocket, said mechanism comprising a filling apron, means for drawing a sleeve with a side opening past the apron to overlay its side opening thereagainst, a pocket filling spout, transport means for the spout on which it is advanced to enter the pocket through its side opening to fill the pocket with package contents, said apron having a recess aligned longitudinally with the pocket and within which sleeve material may be received in the course of filling the pocket.

15. In a machine of the character described, mechanism for filling packages through a side opening in a sleeve pocket, said mechanism comprising a fiiling apron, means for drawing a sleeve with a side opening past the apron to overlay its side opening thereaga-inst, a pocket filling spout, transport means for the spout on which it is advanced to enter the pocket through its side opening to fill the pocket with package contents, said apron having a recess aligned longitudinally with the pocket and within which sleeve material may be received in the course of filling the pocket, said apron having a flexible covering spanning :across said recess to align the pocket opening with the spout and yieldable into said recess under pressure of the spout.

16. The machine of claim 13 in which said spout has with a transverse sleeve sealer beyond the apron to seal said sleeve plies together across said pocket opening to seal the filled package.

18. The machine of claim 13 in further combination with a transverse cutter beyond the last mentioned transverse sleeve sealer to sever the sleeve into discrete filled packages.

19. In a machine of the character described, mechanism for filling packages through a side opening in a sleeve pocket, said mechanism comprising:

I (-a) a filling apron,

(b) means for drawing a sleeve with a side opening past the apron to overlay its side opening thereagainst,

(c) a pocket filling spout,

( d) transport means for the spout on which it is advanced to enter the pocket through its side opening to fill the pocket with package contents,

(e) a heat sealer,

(f) means for engaging said heat sealer with said sleeve and over said side opening toseal said side opening after the pocket has been filled, and

(g) mounting means for said apron on which the apron is moveable to expose said sleeve opening to said heat sealer.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,269,081 6/1918 Helmol-d et a1. 1 83-635 2,336,962 12/1943 'Salfisberg 53180 2,612,738 10/1952 Salfisberg 53-29 2,624,992 1/1953 Salfisberg 53-180 2,645,287 7/1953 Munschaer 8363-5 2,833,097 5/1958 Petrea et a1. 53-188 3,011,934 12/1961 Bursak 53-180 FRANK E. BAILEY, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT A. LEIGHEY, TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE,

' Examiners.

S. A. BEND, W. M. COHEN, Assistant Examiners. 

1. A MACHINE FOR FORMING A PLURALITY OF PACKET POCKETS OF SELECTED PREDETERMINED LENGTH IN A CONTINUOUS SLEEVE FORMING FILM HAVING OPPOSED PLIES, COMPRISING: (A) A FRAME HAVING A TRACK, (B) A TRANSVERSE FILM SLITTER ON THE TRACK TO CUT A POCKET OPENING IN AT LEAST ONE OF SAID PLIES, (C) A TRANSVERSE SEALER ON THE TRACK TO SEAL SAID PLIES TOGETHER AT THE END OF EACH POCKET OPPOSITE SAID POCKET OPENING, AND (D) MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY MOVING SAID SLITTER AND SEALER ALONG THE TRACK TO ADJUST THE SPACING THEREOF ACCORDING TO THE SELECTED PREDETERMINED LENGTH OF THE POCKET. 